Souvenir-post-card protector.



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JOACHIM C. WESTPHALL, OF GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK.

SOUVENIR-POST-CARD PROTECTOR.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, JOACHIM C. WEsTPHALL, a subject of the King of Denmark, residing at Gloversville, in

the county of Fulton and State of New York, have in- "vented certain new and useful Improvements in Souvenir-Post-Card Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

It has come to be a general custom forv parties making trips or journeys to mail cards to friends and acquaintances as souvenirs of points of interest visited. Many of such cards are artistic, delicate in coloring and expensive and when transmitted through the mails becoine soiled and otherwise disigured. Interest attaches to Said cards by reason of the post mark being imprinted thereon authenticating the place from which mailed, hence the desirability of mailing such cards so as to receive the post mark directly thereon.

This invention provides a shield or protector for souvenir post cards, which while covering the pictorial or other matter oi interest imprinted thereon, yet enables the postage stamp to be canceled and the post mark to be imprinted directly upon the card. AThe shield or protector is in the nature of an envelop or pocket and of a size to snugly'receive the postal card and is constructed of cheap transparent material such as parafiined tissue paper which is light, adheres closely to the sides of the card and readily admits of both sides of the card being visible, while at the same time protecting the same from soil incident to ordinary handling in passing through the mail, said envelop being provided with an opening in the upper right hand corner to admit of the postage stamp being canceled and the post mark being impressed directly upon the card.

1n the accompanying drawings forming a part of the invention: Figure l is a front view of the protector showing it applied to a postal card. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line xof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line yfy of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the protector.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The protector or shield is formed of`transparent material, parafiin tissue paper being preferred, and is of the form of anl envelop comprising a iront l and a back 2. The front and back of the protector are connected along three of theiredges, the fourth edge being dis` connected to provide an opening for the insertion of the postal card and the removal of the same from the protector. As shown, the front and back is formed of a single blank doubled u on itself and having end extensions of the back iol ed against extremities of the front and gummed thereto.

Inasmuch as the postage stamp, when properly placed vupon a post card, is located at the upper right hand corner, the front of the protector is provided with an opening to admit of canceling of such stamp, after the protector has been slipped upon the post card. To admit of the post mark being stamped directly upon the card, a second opening is provided in the frontlof the protector close to the stamp canceling opening and by having these openings closely related, the post marking and stamp canceling may be effected at one operation by a single stamp, as most generally practiced. The openings are preferably round, thereby admitting of a minimum amount of material being removed and the protector possessing a maximum amount of strength in the upper right hand corner portion of the front. The connecting strip joining the parts above and below the openings prevents the edge portions of said openings from turning outward which would result if a long, oblong or rectangular opening were provided to admit of cancellation of the stamp and reception of the post mark upon the card.

The protector is exceedingly light and being constructed of transparent material does not prevent the address and the design of the card being' readily observed. The protector being of exceedingly thin material and snugly fitting the post card, is not liable to become accidentally detached therefrom, since it hugs the sides thereof and is retained in place by the snug or close fit, assisted by the thinness of the material which enables the sides to press close vagainst the sides of the card.

To facilitate removal of the post card from the protector, the latter has finger notches 3 midway of its open edges to admit of the post card being gripped between the thumb and a finger of the hand, while the protector is similarly grasped by the other hand, thereby admitting of conveniently placing the card in the protector or withhrawing it therefrom. i

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A protector for souvenir post cards, the same consisting of an envelop or p ocket of transparent material and having openings in a side thereof to admit of canceling the postage stamp of the card and impressing the post mark directly upon said card, While the latter is in position in the protector.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shield or protector for souvenir post card, thesame consisting of an envelop or pocket of transparent material of a size to snugly receive the post card and having adjacent openings near the upper right hand corner toadmit of canceling the postage stamp and impressing the post mark upon the card while in position in the protector.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOACHIM C. WES'IPHALL. [L.s.]

Witnesses:

E. G. COLDING, O. MALMBERG. 

